Beyond the internal dynamics of the Kurdish movement, the past five months have inflicted traumatic wounds and memories on Turkey's increasingly divided societies, which require a radical change of collective mentalities to heal -- something the past election certainly did not provide.

One of the ultimate signs of the settlement of the Kurdish issue in Turkey will be the representation of the Kurds in the political centre with their own identity and demands. This may be the harbinger of such an eventuality.

Turkey is headed in a dangerous direction, toward a corrupt, authoritarian state. The country needs an Arab Spring of sorts, but within the democratic process. An electoral revolution, not a street putsch. The use of the rule of law to end an illiberal government. The ballot box must make political power accountable.

In southeastern Turkey, a region where 45 percent of women cannot read or write, women are making unprecedented gains. The first woman mayor of Hakkari, Dilek Hatipoglu, was elected and Fatma Toru became mayor of Konya's Meram district.

Kilicdaroglu has consistently bashed Erdogan on both domestic and foreign policy in the midst of a deepening gulf in Turkish society between secularists and Islamists that threatens more street violence.